Rotary engine.



PATENTED DEC. 27, 1904.

E. BUCHHOLTZ.

ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEG.14,1903.

3 SHEETSSHIBET 1.

. mm 3 h. 1 Mill] {I Ill N d \\.N R N M M 6 J m A h x IL v 1 H a; I It wk E m E Q N mm vm PATENTED DEC. 27, 1904.

E. BUOHHOLTZ.

ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED 1330.14. 1903.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

No. 778,630. PATENTED DEG. 2'7, 1904. E. BUGHHOLTZ.

- ROTARY ENGINE.

APPL-IOATION PILED'DEG. 14, 1903.

s SHEETS-SHEET s.

UNITED STATES- Patented December 27, 1904,,

ERNEST BUCHHOLTZ, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

ROTARY ENGINE.

SEEOIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 778,630, datedDecember 27, 1904.

Application filed December 14, 1903. Serial No. 185,006.

To all 1072,0772, it Duty concern:

Be it known that I, ERNEST BUCHHOLTZ, a subject of the Emperor ofGermany, and a resident of London, England, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in R0- tary Engines, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to rotary engines operated by steam or otherpressure fluid, and belongs to that class which has a stationarycylinder with a revoluble shaft passing axially therethrough and carriedin bearings in the end covers of the cylinder.

According to this invention a number of stationary disks of equalthickness are fixed within the cylinder in planes at right angles to theaxis thereof and at distances apart. Each of these stationary disks isbored centrally to allow of the free passage of the shaft, and thelatter shaft has fixed to it a number of revoluble disks so placed thateach revoluble disk is located between two stationary disks, but is notin actual frictional contact with the latter or with the cylinder, whilethe numbers of stationary disks compared to the numbers of revolubledisks are such that a revoluble disk becomes located at each outer endof the cylinder. It is important, according to this invention, that astationary disk should be at each outer end of the series and that therevoluble parts of the engine should not be, and according to thisinvention they are not, in frictional contact with any stationary partof the engine, excepting at the shaftbearings, and to this end therevoluble disks are formed so that an interspace exists between theirsurfaces and the surfaces of the stationary parts, and by annularlygrooving the revoluble disks and forming intermeshing ribs on thestationary disks the interspace is made circuitous and forms asteam-packing. Asingle series or several series of perforations are madethrough each of the revoluble and through each of the fixed disks, theseperforations being arranged in a circle or circles concentric with theshaft, so that the perforations of the revoluble disks coincide with theperforations of the fixed disks.

The invention provides that the fixed disks shall be of equal andsuflicient thickness, so that the perforations therethrough formdirective passages for the pressure fluid, the perforations extendingthrough the revoluble disks at angles opposed in direction to thedirection of the corresponding series of perforations of the fixeddisks, the said perforations of the revoluble disks passing in thecircular direction in which the series are arranged.

There are ports to admit pressure fluid to one end of the cylinder andto exhaust it from the other, the pressure fluid passing through all thedirective perforations of the fixed disks and through the revolubledisks, producing the rotation of the revoluble parts and driving themotor-shaft. Reversal of the motion can be effected by reversing thedirection of flow of the pressure fluid.

There will now be described a construction of such an engine havingseveral and preferably an unequal number of concentric series ofcoincident perforations formed through both the stationary and revolubledisks, so that the pressure fluid is passed in at one end of thecylinder, is changed in its direction to pass through the next series ofperforations, and so on.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a part-sectionalplan view of arotary engine according to this invention. Fig. 2 is anend elevation of the same engine having the cover-plate and the firststationary disk removed to show one of the revoluble disks. Fig. 3 is anend elevation of one of the stationary disks detached. Figs. 4 and 5 arediagrams showing a relative arrangement of the perforations through thedisks.

Referring to the example of construction shown at Figs. 1 to 3, 1 is thecylinder of the engine provided with end covers 2 3, which carry thebearings of the axial revoluble shaft 4 and the glands 5 for the saidshaft, and the cylinder 1 may be constructed to be carried by anysuitable framework, such as 6, Fig. 2, so as to be held stationary.

Within the cylinder 1 there are arranged a number of disks 7, which arefixed to the cylinder by any suitable means, so as to be heldstationary, and the disks are bored at the center with perforations ofsuch diameter as i being made at opposed angles to the first seto beclear of the parts which pass through the central boring.

Upon the shaft are fixed a number of disks 8, which revolve therewith,and each of the said disks 8 is located between two fixed disks 7, andthus the whole contained series of disks commences at one end with astationary disk 7 and terminates at the opposite end of the cylinderwith another stationary disk 7 1n the construction shown the stationarydisks 7 are separated from each other by annular rings 18, which fit theinterior periphery of the cylinder 1, and the said disks 7 and rings 18are bolted together and held stationary within the cylinder, as beforeexplained.

The revoluble disks 8 are formed with shoulders to fit centrally uponthe shaft and are keyed thereto, while their surfaces are made withannular grooves in between each circular series of perforations. Annularprojecting ribs are also formed on the stationary disks 7 to enter thegrooves of the disks 8, the grooves and ribs of the revoluble disksbeing so proportioned that no part of the surfaces of the disks 8 are inactual contact with the disks 7, and this narrow circuitous inter-spaceforms a steam-packing between the disks.

Each stationary disk 7 is formed with several concentric seriesofperforations,the number of circular series being preferably unequal.In the present instance there are five concentric series of perforationsthrough each fixed disk, the said perforations being preferably circularand extending through the disks in a direction parallel with the axis ofthe shaft and at right angles to the plane of the disks. Theseperforations are indicated at 10 in the drawings and are arranged atequal distances apart in each circle, as is clearly shown at Fig. 3 ofthe drawings.

Perforations 11, equal in number to the perforations 10 or one less innumber, are also formed through the revoluble disks S,as shown at Fig.2, these perforations 11 being arranged in circles concentric with theshaft and correspending in number with the circular series ofperforations in the fixed disks 7. The perforations 11 are not, however,formed at right angles to the plane of the disks 8, but are arranged ata suitable angle thereto, less than a right angle, and inclined in acircular direction. Each perforation of the outer circle is inclined tothe plane of the fixed disks oppositely to each perforation of the nextinnermost circle of perforations in the revoluble disks 8.

It will now be understood that several and preferably an unequal numberof concentric series of coincident perforations are formed through boththe stationary and revoluble disks 7 and 8, the first (inner or outer)series of perforations through the revoluble disks ries of perforationsthrough the thickness of the fixed disks, the second series ofperforations through the revoluble disks being at oppositely-opposedangles, and so on.

All the perforations through all the disks are circular in shape inplanes at rightangles to the directions of such perforations, and thediameter of the outermost series of perforations in the fixed diskscorresponds with the diameter of the outermost series of perforationsthrough the revoluble disks, and so on through all the series, while theperforations forming the outer circular series in each disk are madesmaller in diameter and greater in number than the next inner series ofperforations, the perforations of the innermost series being of largerdiameter and few in n umber, and the one circular series is soproportioned with regard to the next series that the addition of theareas of the perforations in one series will be equal to the addition ofthe areas of the perforations in the next series, so that the totalsectional area of each series of perforations through which the steampasses is equal to that of the next inner series. Moreover, in thestationary disks the solid metal between each adjacent perforation in acircularline is equal to the actual diameter of the bore composing aperforation in that series, and therefore in the revoluble disks havingthe perforations extendingangularly, (although the said perforations arecircular in planes at right angles to their direction) yet at the faceof the revoluble disk the configuration of the perforations will beelliptical, and consequently the metal separating one perforation fromthe next in any series in the revoluble disks will be slightly less inthe direction of the series upon the face of the said disks than themajor axis of the ellipse formed by the perforation on the face of thedisk.

The steam-pressure is supplied by a steampipe 19 to a valve-chest 20upon the outer surface of the cylinder 1, Fig. 1. In the valvechest islocated a slide-valve 21, by which one of two steam-ports 22 or .23 maybe opened for the admittance of steam, while the other is closed, orboth ports may be closed. In the drawings the port 22 is shown to beopen for the admittance of steam. ing through the port and passage 22enters an annular segmental chamber 24, formed in the end 2 of thecylinder in conjunction with an annular projection on the first of thefixed disks 7, and by this annular chamber the steam is simultaneouslysupplied to all the outer circular series of perforations in the saidfixed disk 7. Passing then through all that outer series of perforationsin the fixed and revoluble disks within the cylinder, the steam entersannular passage 25 in the opposite cover 3 of the cylinder, by which itis conducted to supply simultaneously all the perforations composing thenext inner series in that sta- The steam. pass-v tionary disk 7 at theopposite end of the cylinder from which the steam first entered and fromwhich it passes through all that series of perforations in the fixed andmoving disks to the end cover 2 of the cylinder and by another annularpassage is fed to the next inner series of perforations, and so on untilit has passed in alternate directions through each series ofperforations and is then delivered to an annular passage 26 in the endcover 3. From the annular passage 26 the exhauststeam passes by theport27 upon the other side of the cylinder, the connection between theannular passage 26 and the port 27 being similar to the connectionbetween the port 23 and the annular passage 26. The exhaust-steam passesby the port 27 through a valve-chest 28 and away by the exhaust-pipe 29.The valvechest 28 also contains a slide-valve 30, similar to theslide-valve 21, and both valves are capable of adjustment to either openone or other of the two passages which they respectively control or toclose both the passages. The travel of the steam has been thus statedwhen the engine is to be driven in one direction; but when it is to bereversed in its direction of motion the valve 21 is adjusted so as toclose the port 22 and open the port 23, while the valve 30 is adjustedso as to close the port 27 and open the port 31, and then thesteamsupply will pass by the port 23 to the annular passage 26 and enterthrough the inner series of perforations of the disks, and aftertraversing all the series outwardly in alternately-re\-'ersed directionsthe exhaust-steam will pass away by the port 31 and the engine will bedriven in the reverse direction.

There have been shown five concentric series of perforations in eachdisk; but obviously I might make a less or a greater number. Forinstance, there might be only one circle of perforations, or there mightbe two circles of perforations in each disk, when in this latter casethe pressure fiuid would pass twice through the cylinder.

I preferably fix the revoluble disks in such relative positions to eachother in the circular direction that the steam only has at any onemoment a comparatively free passage through a certain number of thefixed and revoluble disks-say through five of the revoluble disks in oneof the circular series of perforations, as is illustrated on thediagrams Figs. 4: and 5. At Fig. & the perforations or ports of thefirst stationary disk 7 are full open for the admittance of steam,whereas the ports of the second stationary disk are less open than thefirst, and so on with the third and fourth, while at the fifthstationary disk the said ports are closed and will open when therevolving disks commence their motion. Fig. 5 shows the same arrangementin a more advanced position. Thus a volume of steam entering the openpassage through the first fixed disk may pass practically unobstructedthrough several of the disks, its passage-way being closed behind it bythe movement which will take place of the first revoluble disk throughwhich it passes, while simultaneously the passage which was hithertoclosed at the opposite end will be opened, permitting of the expansionof steam in the direction of its travel. In these views the traverse ofthe steam is indicated through one series of ports by arrows.

I/Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is

1. In a rotary engine having a stationary cylinder with a revolubleshaft passing axially therethrough; the combination with a number ofstationary disks equal in thickness fixed within and fitting thecylinder at distances apart, each having a central aperture to per mitof the free passage of the revoluble shaft, and each having similarseries of perforations arranged in circles concentric with the shaft toform directive passages for the pressure fluid, the sum of the areas ofthe perforations composing each seriesbeing equal to each other; of anumber of disks of equal thickness fixed upon and revoluble with theshaft, each revoluble disk being located between two stationary disks,and each having series of perforations arranged in circles concentricwith the shaft coincident in position and areas with the correspondingcircular series of perforations through the stationary disks, andextending in the circular direction in which the series of perforationsare arranged, and at angles opposed in direction to the direction of thecorresponding perforations through disks, cover-plates one at each endof the cylinder having passages communicating with the perforations ofthe outer stationary disks, means for changing the direction of flow ofthe pressure fluid through the said passages for reversing the directionof motion of the engine, and bearings carried by the cover-plates tosupport the axial shaft, substantially as set forth.

2. In a rotary engine having a stationary cylinder with a revolubleshaft passing axially therethrough; the combination with a number ofstationary disks of equal thickness fixed within and fitting thecylinder at distances apart, each having a central aperture to permit ofthe free passage of the revoluble shaft, and each having perforationsextending through the said disks parallel with the axis of the shaft toform directive passages for the pressure fiuid, the perforations beingcircularly arranged concentric with the shaft; of a number of disks ofequal thickness fixed upon and revoluble with the shaft, each revolubledisk being located between two stationary disks, so that the outer enddirective disks of the series are stationary, the said revoluble disksnot being in frictional contact with the said stationary IIO disks orwith the cylinder, the said revoluble disks having perforations arrangedcircularly concentric with the shaft and coincident with theperforations of the stationary disks, the perforations passing throughthe revoluble disks at angles opposed in direction to the direction ofthe corresponding perforations through the stationary disks andextending in the circular direction in which the perforations arearranged, cover-plates one at each end of the cylinder having passagesto communicate with the perforations of the outer stationary disks,means for reversing the direction of flow of the pressure fluid forreversing the direction of motion of the engine,

scribed.

3. In a rotary engine having a stationary cylinder with a revolubleshaft passing axially therethrough; the combination with a number ofstationary disks equal in thickness fixed within and fitting thecylinder at distances apart, each having a central aperture to permit ofthe free passage-of the revoluble shaft and each having similar seriesof perforations arranged in an uneven number of circles concentric withthe shaft to form directive passages for the pressure fluid, the sum ofthe area of the perforations composing each series being equal to eachother; of a number of disks of equal thickness fixed upon and revolublewith the shaft, each revoluble disk being located between two stationarydisks, and each having series of perforations arranged in an unevennumber of circles concentric with the shaft and coincident with thecircular series of perforations through the stationary disks, the outercircular series of perforations through the revoluble disks being atangles opposed in direction to the direction of the correspondingperforations through the fixed disks and extending in the circulardirection in which the series of perforations are arranged, the nextinner series of perforations being at oppositely-opposed angles, and soon, a cover-plate 2 fixed to the cylinder at one end and having passagestherein, the passages 2a therein communicating with the outer series ofperforations in the adjacent stationary disk, a cover-plate 3 on theopposite end of the cylinder having an annular passage to formcommunication between the first and second series of perforations of theadjacent stationary disk on that side, the opposite cover-plate 2 havingan annular passage to form communication between the second and thirdseries of perforations in the stationary disk adjacent to thecover-plate 2, and so on, passages 26 in the cover-plate 3 communicatingwith the inner series of perforations, and valves for controlling thepassages 2 L of the cover-plate 2 and and bearings carried by thecover-plate to support the axial shaft, substantially as dewaesopassages 26 of the cover-plate 3, substantially as set forth.

a stationary cylinder having ports 22, 31, in its opposite circularwalls communicating by passages in the walls with one end of thecylinder, and having ports 23, 27 communicating by passages in the wallswith the other end of the cylinder, two valves one at each side of thecylinder, one to control the ports 22, 23, and the other to control theports 31, 27 to admit pressure by the port 22 on one side to drive theengine in one direction and exhaust by the port 27 on the other side, orto admit pressure by the port 23 on one side to drive the engine in theother direction and exhaust by the port 31 on the other side, arevoluble shaft passing axially through the cylinder, and a number ofstationary disks fixed within the cylinder, each having a centralaperture to permit of the free passage of the shaft and each havingsimilar series of perforations parallel with its axis, arranged in anuneven number of circles concentric with the shaft to form directivepassages for the pressure fluid, the addition of the areas of theperforations composing each series being equal to each other; of anumber of disks of equal thickness fixed on the shaft, each locatedbetween two stationary disks and each having circular series ofperforations corres 'mnding and coincident with the perforations of thestationary disks, the outer circular at. In a rotary engine; thecombination with series of perforations through the revoluble disksbeing at less than a right angle with the faces of the disks andinclining in the circular direction in which the series of perforationsare arranged, the next inner series of perforations inclining at anopposite angle and so on, a cover-plate 2 fixed to the cylinder at oneend having passages 24 communicating with the outer series ofperforations of the adjacent stationary disk and with thecylinder-passages terminating in the ports 22 and 31, a cover-plate 2 onthe opposite end of the cylinder having an annular passage 25 tocommunicate between the first and second series of perforations of theadjacent stationary disk, the opposite coverplate 2 having an annularpassage to form communication between the second and third series ofperforations and so on, and passages 26 in the cover-plate 3 to formcommunication between the inner series of perforations and thecylinder-passages terminating in the ports 23, 27, whereby the directionof flow of the pressure fluid can be reversed for reversing the enginesubstantially as set forth.

GRIFFITH BREWER, l \VM. A. MARsHALL.

